Palmer man pleads no contest to sexual assault charge

PALMER-- A Palmer man entered a no contest plea on Friday in Palmer Superior Court and waived indictment on a charge that he had sexually abused a 16-year-old girl.

William Welsh, 42, was charged in July with first-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual abuse of a minor. His Friday no contest plea was entered to the charge of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, while the sexual assault charge was dismissed.

According to court documents, a witness reported the abuse after observing Welsh assault the girl in July when Welsh and the girl were cleaning a house belonging to a third party. Reportedly, the girl subsequently told investigators that the abuse had occurred many times in the past but she did not tell anyone about the assaults. She also said that Welsh told her no one would believe her and that she was afraid of him because he would get angry and abusive when she resisted, according to charging documents.

Welsh fled the state after troopers investigated the allegations, but was subsequently arrested and returned to Alaska.

Sentencing in the case is set for Feb. 10, 2003, in Palmer Superior Court. Welsh remains in custody at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $75,000 cash bail.